Sled detection device

Abstract

A surgical stapling device includes a staple reload and a shipping wedge. In embodiments, the shipping wedge is configured to disable the use of a staple reload if the staple reload does not have an actuation sled. In other embodiments, the actuation sled includes a readable identifier that facilitates confirmation of the presence of an actuation sled within a staple reload from a location externally of the staple reload.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical stapling device comprising:
 a body portion supporting a drive assembly including a knife bar; 
 a tool assembly supported on the body portion and including an anvil and a cartridge assembly coupled to the anvil such that the tool assembly is movable between an open position and a clamped position, the cartridge assembly including a channel and a staple cartridge positioned within the channel, the channel including a wall defining a longitudinal slot that facilitates passage of the knife bar, the staple cartridge including staples and configured to receive an actuation sled, the knife bar movable through the tool assembly from a retracted position to an advanced position; 
 a shipping wedge releasably coupled to the stapling device, the shipping wedge including a body portion, a retaining member, and a detection member, the retaining member extending through the longitudinal slot in the channel of the cartridge assembly to secure the shipping wedge to the stapling device, the retaining member movable within the longitudinal slot of the channel from a locked position in which the retaining member is locked within the longitudinal slot to an unlocked position in which the retaining member is removable from the longitudinal slot, the detection member supported on the body portion for movement between first and second positions, the detection member extending into the tool assembly into engagement with the actuation sled when the actuation sled is present in the staple cartridge to move the detection member from the second position to the first position, wherein in the second position, the detection member is positioned to prevent movement of the retaining member from the locked position to the unlocked position. 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical stapling device of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member includes a vertical strut and a transverse shoulder, the vertical strut extending through the longitudinal slot of the channel and the transverse shoulder engaging the wall of the channel when the retaining member is in the locked position to obstruct removal of the shipping wedge from the stapling device. 
     
     
       3. The surgical stapling device of  claim 2 , wherein the vertical strut is movable within the longitudinal slot of the channel to move the retaining member between the locked position and the unlocked position. 
     
     
       4. The surgical stapling device of  claim 3 , wherein the detection member is supported on a resilient arm, the resilient arm positioned within the longitudinal slot of the channel adjacent to the vertical strut of the retaining member when the detection member is in the second position to prevent movement of the retaining member from the locked position to the unlocked position. 
     
     
       5. The surgical stapling device of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping wedge includes a plurality of resilient clip members that releasably engage the stapling device to secure the shipping wedge to the stapling device. 
     
     
       6. The surgical stapling device of  claim 5 , wherein the stapling device includes a mounting assembly secured to the tool assembly, the mounting assembly pivotably coupling the tool assembly to the body portion of the stapling device such that the tool assembly is pivotable in relation to the body portion of the stapling device. 
     
     
       7. The surgical stapling device of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of clip members includes a finger that is received between the mounting assembly and the body portion of the stapling device when the shipping wedge is coupled to the tool assembly to obstruct pivotable movement of the tool assembly in relation to the body portion of the stapling device. 
     
     
       8. The surgical stapling device of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping wedge includes a stop member that is positioned to extend through the longitudinal slot of the channel to obstruct movement of the knife bar from the retracted position towards the advanced position when the shipping wedge is coupled to the stapling device. 
     
     
       9. The surgical stapling device of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping wedge includes a spacer that extends outwardly from the body portion of the shipping wedge and is positioned to engage the anvil when the shipping wedge is coupled to the tool assembly to retain the tool assembly in the open position. 
     
     
       10. A shipping wedge configured to be releasably coupled to a tool assembly of a stapling device, the shipping wedge comprising:
 a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion; 
 a retaining member supported on the body, the retaining member positioned to extend through a longitudinal slot in a channel of the tool assembly to secure the shipping wedge to the stapling device, the retaining member movable within the longitudinal slot of the channel from a locked position in which the retaining member is locked within the longitudinal slot to an unlocked position in which the retaining member is removable from the longitudinal slot; and 
 a detection member supported on the body for movement in relation to the body between first and second positions, wherein in the second position, the detection member is positioned adjacent the retaining member to obstruct movement of the retaining member from the locked position to the unlocked position, and in the first position, the detection member is positioned to facilitate movement of the retaining member from the locked position to the unlocked position. 
 
     
     
       11. The shipping wedge of  claim 10 , wherein the retaining member includes a vertical strut and a transverse shoulder, the vertical strut configured to extend through the longitudinal slot of the channel of the tool assembly, and the transverse shoulder configured to engage the channel when the retaining member is in the locked position to obstruct removal of the shipping wedge from the stapling device. 
     
     
       12. The shipping wedge of  claim 11 , wherein the detection member is supported on a resilient arm coupled to the body of the shipping wedge. 
     
     
       13. The shipping wedge of  claim 10 , wherein the shipping wedge includes clip members that are configured to releasably engage a stapling device to secure the shipping wedge to the stapling device. 
     
     
       14. The shipping wedge of  claim 13 , wherein each of the clip members includes an inwardly extending finger. 
     
     
       15. The shipping wedge of  claim 10 , further including a stop member supported on the body to extend through the longitudinal slot of the channel. 
     
     
       16. The shipping wedge of  claim 10 , further including a spacer supported on the distal portion of the body, the spacer including a leg extending from the body and a transverse portion supported on the leg. 
     
     
       17. The shipping wedge of  claim 16 , wherein the leg is supported on the body in cantilevered fashion. 
     
     
       18. A surgical stapling device comprising;
 a staple reload including a tool assembly and a body portion, the tool assembly supported on the body portion of the staple reload and including an anvil and a cartridge assembly coupled to the anvil such that the tool assembly is movable between an open position and a clamped position, the cartridge assembly including a channel and a staple cartridge positioned within the channel, the channel including a wall defining a longitudinal slot, the staple cartridge including staples and configured to receive an actuation sled; 
 a shipping wedge releasably coupled to the stapling device, the shipping wedge including a body, a retaining member, and a detection member, the retaining member extending through the longitudinal slot in the channel of the cartridge assembly to secure the shipping wedge to the stapling device, the retaining member movable within the longitudinal slot of the channel from a locked position in which the retaining member is locked within the longitudinal slot of the channel to an unlocked position in which the retaining member is removable from the longitudinal slot of the channel, the detection member supported on the body of the shipping wedge and movable between first and second positions, the detection member extending into the tool assembly into engagement with the actuation sled when the actuation sled is present in the staple cartridge and the shipping wedge is coupled to the stapling device to move the detection member from the second position to the first position, wherein in the second position, the detection member is positioned to prevent movement of the retaining member from the locked position to the unlocked position. 
 
     
     
       19. The surgical stapling device of  claim 18 , wherein the retaining member includes a vertical strut and a transverse shoulder, the vertical strut extending through the longitudinal slot of the channel and the transverse shoulder engaging the wall of the channel when the retaining member is in the locked position to obstruct removal of the shipping wedge from the stapling device. 
     
     
       20. The surgical stapling device of  claim 18 , wherein the shipping wedge includes a plurality of resilient clip members that are configured to releasably engage the stapling device to secure the shipping wedge to the stapling device.